Successful horror is about what you DON’T do: Visceral explain how they’re keeping Dead Space scary

Visceral's Dave Woldman wants to keep the focus on horror, not action.

At a recent EA event, games.on.net had the chance to sit down with Visceral’s Dave Woldman, senior producer on Dead Space 3. Woldman discussed Visceral’s approach to horror, how they’re planning to keep the game scary, and how truly successful horror is about the absence of combat, and more about what you don’t show rather than what you do.

Woldman also touched on the Dead Space community’s reaction to the new game, saying “People are resistant to change. They don’t know about the thought processes we go through, and that what we’re trying to do is evolve the franchise, deliver more of what they want in new and creative ways.

“I think the natural resistance to change is something expect, especially when you have such wonderful, rabid, passionate fans that we have.”

The problem with what Dave Woldman is saying about trying to make the franchise better, and complaining (perhaps politely put on his part, but still complaining), about the communities response is that the trailers they’ve put out have given a very strong sense that Dead Space 3 is turning into an action shooter, Gears of War style. I really hope I’m proven wrong, will wait to see a review on GoodGame or Zero Punctuation or something.